Will He Rise Again?

We thought the story was over. The last chapter of the book was written and nothing could be changed, especially not now, not after three weeks of constant humiliation. Yet, against all odds and the pressure of being “one snap away from Brady Quinn”, Tebow rose above it all and played arguably the best football game he’s ever played (yes even better than the ones he played as a Gator). We can talk all we want about the “coincidence” of him throwing for 316 yards, having a 31.6 yard per throw average, and of how his favorite Bible Verse is John 3:16. But no matter what it was, whether it was divine intervention or a big-time player making big-time plays, what we saw on Sunday really happened. The Pittsburgh Steelers, who boasted the number one pass defense in the NFL, gave up 316 yards and two touchdowns to the man who held the lowest quarterback rating during the regular season. Now was it really God coming back after Christmas vacation to help his main man Tebow out? Most people, especially the players in the NFL, would prefer a holy explanation. But Tebow’s faith isn’t what decided his fate against the Steelers. There’s another explanation, one that is much more likely to get NFL players and coaches praying to God than any divine intervention theory will: the man can actually throw the ball!

Let’s flashback to the three weeks before Tebow’s epic performance against the Steelers. Coming off a 7-1 start that included six last minute victories, the Bronco’s strong run came to a strong halt facing the incredibly potent offense of the Patriots, led by Tom Brady. Nobody was disappointed by Tebow’s performance as he threw for two touchdowns, ran for another, and had his offense moving up and down the field consistently throughout the game. The Broncos were hoping to pick up right where they left off before they faced “God’s nephew” but got slapped in the face by the Buffalo Bills who would have nothing of Tebow launching a last minute comeback against them. They forced four turnovers in the fourth quarter alone and exposed flaws in Tebow’s game that most people had forgot about. No sweat though. The Broncos were still in the driver’s seat in terms of winning their division. All they needed to do is beat the woeful Chiefs, a team that Tebow had already beat in prime Tebow fashion, throwing the ball only eight times. The only problem was that Kyle Orton, the quarterback whom the Broncos had cut to make room for Tebow, would have none of it. Neither would the Chiefs defense that had held Aaron Rodgers to only 14 points only a couple of weeks ago. Unlike in the Bills or the Patriots games, the Broncos were able to remain in striking distance in the fourth quarter, down only four points with the ball in their hands late. Seems set up for another Tebow comeback right? Well the Chiefs held strong and won the game 7-3, spiraling questions from everyone about Tebow’s future in Denver.

Now at this point, Tebow has lost three in a row, and everyone from NFL analysts to his teammates are calling for his head. His days as an NFL quarterback seem limited and the whole world is waiting to see how James Harrison, Troy Polamulu, and the rest of Pittsburgh’s top-ranked defense will humiliate the young QB. We had all watched Tebow rise and now it seemed inevitable that we would see him fall flat on his face. But if you look at it in perspective, his overall record as a starter was still 7-4 and he had landed his team a playoff berth. All he had done wrong was lose three games in a row, something that quarterbacks Aaron Rodgers and Drew Brees had both done in the past. Heck, Phillip Rivers this season lost six games in a row at one point and yet there is no doubt who is going to be the Chargers’ starting QB next season. Matt Ryan had never won a playoff game prior to his loss on Sunday and Tebow already has had more playoff success than him. Yet, there’s no doubt for the Falcons that Matt Ryan is their guy, something that the Broncos have yet to say about Tim Tebow, even after his stellar performance against the Steelers.

What most people forget about Tebow is that he is only a second year QB. He hasn’t even played a full sixteen games! And yet, the pressure that he faces each starter is probably greater than any other starting quarterback in the league faces. It seems like each game, he is fighting for much more than just the win, he is fighting for his NFL career. Critics, before the Pittsburgh game, were just waiting to tee off on Tebow and discredit his abilities. Sadly enough for them, they have to wait another week and this time with the stunning revelation that this kid may just make it in the big leagues.

Flash forward to the NFL Divisional Playoff Game this Saturday against the New England Patriots. Now its clear to the skeptic that there is no way that the Broncos can win this game. Not against last year’s MVP Tom Brady and against the coaching whiz that is Bill Belichick. But if you look at the numbers Tebow has more of a chance against the Patriots than he ever did against the Steelers. The Steelers hadn’t given up 300 yards to any QB all season. The Patriots’ defense on average gives that up to opposing quarterbacks. In the first game against the Patriots, Tebow’s offense was moving the ball down the field at will, especially on the ground, something that they will look to do again on Saturday. The Broncos will look to do the same this time around, not only to move down the field but to also skew time of possession in their favor in order to keep Tom Brady on the sideline. Even if the Broncos execute their game plan to perfection, because of their high powered offense, the Patriots will remain within striking distance and whether or not Tebow wins his second straight playoff game will come down to the Broncos defense versus Tom Brady. Brady won the battle last time, torching the Broncos’ secondary for over forty points. Whether or not the Broncos can adjust accordingly and whether or not Tebow is able to silence his critics once again will both be answered come Saturday. 

He Changed the Game... For the Worse?

There's no doubt about it. Whether your a die hard Kobe fan who holds true that 24>23, an old geezer who believes Bill Russel is unmatchable with his 11 rings, or a stat stuffer who believes that no one should be able to argue with Wilt's 50 PPG, you can't deny that Michael Jordan's impact on the game of basketball has been greater than anyone else's, both before and after him, regardless of whether or not you believe he was the best to ever play the game. Jordan revolutionized basketball by adding a sense of individuality and athleticism that was unseen prior to his reign over the league. Even if you completely discount his contributions to the game on the court, there is no denying his influence off the court as he became the first true international star in basketball and became the only athlete to have his own brand within Nike. Jordan did it all, from guarding the best player on the other team, to shooting inspiring Nike commercials, to dominating in the playoffs with the flu. He was not only a complete basketball player but a complete individual, propelling the game of basketball to new crowds and creating new fans. He truly changed the game. But the question is, was it really better for the game itself?

Off the basketball court, it's hard to really see Jordan's contributions as controversial in any way, other than the fact that people have died waiting for new shoes to come out on Saturday mornings. That says more about us as a society than it does about Jordan and his impact on basketball. No, his off the court contributions have mainly been positive and aren't really what bother me. What bothers is how the focus of basketball changed from being on the team to being on the individual player after Jordan's reign. If you look at legendary basketball players before Jordan, you normally associate them with their respective teams. Magic Johnson's legacy is forever tied with the Showtime Lakers, Larry Bird and Bill Russell are always associated with their great Celtic teams, and Dr. J is always pictured as a 76er. Now this is not to say that people envision Michael Jordan in a uniform other than the red and black one in which he won six championships in, but when people think of Michael Jordan, that's all they think of. They think of the man who won six NBA championships, not the team that he did it with.

Fast forward to the summer of 2010 where the biggest story in basketball once again involves #23, the so-called resurrection of Michael Jordan, Lebron James. A couple of months ago, James and his Cavaliers had been manhandled by the Boston Celtics in the playoffs and now where James will play his basketball next year has become biggest story of the off-season. In fact, the story is so big, that James needed a Sportscenter Special to announce that he will be "taking his talents to South Beach." Now James has since then apologized for this act and said that he if he could go back in time, he would change his decision but the fact of the matter is that it's not even really his fault. The culture in basketball has shifted so much to the individual athlete that it only seemed fair for Lebron James, arguably the biggest marquee free agent in the history of the game, to announce his decision this way. James is not the cause of this paradigm; he is a mere result of it. Superstars before him (such as Kobe Bryant and Allen Iverson) and the ones are in his generation (such as his teammate Dwayne Wade) are no different. They are all part of this basketball revolution in which it is the individual superstars, not the teams, that are the most important factors in the league. Look no further than the 2007 NBA Finals for a perfect example of this trend. In 07', the San Antonio Spurs and the Detroit Pistons, two of the most well-rounded teams in the NBA, competed for the Larry O'Brien trophy. It was a grueling series, that ended with the Spurs winning in 7. Now you would assume that any series that goes to seven games would have every game as a must-see thriller right? Well, when it was all said and done, this was the least watched NBA Finals since 1990. The reason for that was simple: neither team had any marquee superstars. Both the Spurs and the Pistons were really good, complete basketball teams who matched up well with each other. For one reason or another, that just wasn't good enough for us, the fans.

It's not fair to assume that Michael Jordan was the sole cause of this aforementioned shift but there's no denying his influence. Michael Jordan was easily the most complete basketball player the league had ever seen and he single-handedly made basketball relevant again with his superior athletic ability and his ability to deliver big plays in big moments. Team basketball is the price we paid for this relevance. Whether or not the price was too high is still yet to be seen.

The Lakers WILL Win The West

With all the talk of the Clippers being the new big dogs in Los Angeles and with Oklahoma City being proclaimed by many as the favorites to win the conference, it's easy to see the Lakers as the "old man" of the West. What most people forget is that the Lakers have the same core as they have had for the past four seasons (with the absence of Lamar Odom of course), a core that has earned them four top-three spots in the West and three finals appearances. With that being said, it's also true that you are only as good as your last game, and before this season started, the Lakers' last game was an embarrassing 30 point loss to the now defending champions, the Dallas Mavericks. It wasn't just the fact that the Lakers lost that had everyone doubting them but it was the way they lost. They lost home-court advantage by dropping their first two at home, had discipline issues that were exemplified with Bynum's cheap shot against J.J Barea, and were questioned on their toughness, especially Pau Gasol. Even their most loyal fans (including myself), wouldn't have put the Lakers as the favorites to win the West after watching last season's debacle.

Yet, here we are. The best thing about sports is that no matter how good or how bad a team looks on paper, you don't really know anything about them until you actually see them play. And I'm not saying that the Lakers are going to win the West because they are playing incredible basketball, but because everyone else in the West isn't. The newly formed Clippers are a must-see show to watch on the offensive end, but defensively, they are far from adequate and their defensive woes can easily be exposed, especially in the playoffs. The defending champion Dallas Mavericks need to address a variety of problems both offensively and defensively. They have started the season 1-3 and badly miss, the presence and leadership of center Tyson Chandler.

The one team in the West that is living up to expectations is the Oklahoma City Thunder, led by Kevin Durant who is the best player in basketball right now (yes, better than Lebron). With Ibaka and a 50-pound lighter Kendrick Perkins, the Thunder also have the big men to match up with the Lakers' duo of Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum. Surprisingly so, the one person that will prevent the Thunder from beating the Lakers is their second leading scorer, Russel Westbrook. Russel Westbrook, along with Derrick Rose, is the most athletic point guard in the league. He has the skill set to score thirty points a game. But that's exactly the problem. Russel Westbrook knows how well he can score and he tries to take advantage of it, time and time again, at the cost of taking away shots from Kevin Durant, who is shooting 55% from the field in this young season. Russel Westbrook will be the demise of the Oklahoma City Thunder and his bad shot selection will negatively impact everyone on his team, including Durant. Maybe OKC will ask Westbrook to change his style and maybe he will learn to play like a real point guard, but if the status quo remains, look for OKC to beat themselves in big games.

Just because other teams are playing bad in the West, doesn't mean that the Lakers are playing well. The Lakers began their season losing their first two and had people all over the league questioning whether or not these Lakers were about to self-destruct. I also haven't even mentioned the younger teams in the West who could pull off key upsets, teams such as the Memphis Grizzlies and the Denver Nuggets. I also haven't mentioned the aging but consistent San Antonio Spurs, who are always a threat in the post-season due to their depth and unmatched experience.

What, in my mind, puts the Lakers ahead of the rest of the West, despite their inconsistent play, is their bench, which is deeper than it has ever been despite losing Lamar Odom, and their two big men, who have the ability to provide instant offense against anyone in the NBA. The addition of Troy Murphy, Joshua McRoberts, and Jason Kapono provides the Lakers with a solid second unit, that is anchored by Steve Blake and Metta World Peace. Don't get me wrong. Lamar Odom is a great basketball player and his presence will be missed dearly, especially in the locker room. But his departure may have come as a little bit of a blessing due to the fact that he played about 30 minutes a game, taking away key minutes from other bench players and thus making them ineffective. This impact can also be seen with the departure of Shannon Brown on the play of Steve Blake, who doesn't have to compete for minutes and has a clear role as the back-up point guard behind Derek Fisher.

Along with their second unit, the Lakers still have Gasol and Bynum, who can both cause havoc in the paint. The Lakers missed Bynum dearly in their first two games and he played a critical factor in the Lakers' win over the Nuggets on New Years' Eve, scoring 29 points and snatching 13 boards. No other team in the NBA has two big men that they can constantly feed the ball to for offensive production. The maturity in Bynum's game was easy to notice in his pre-season games and his first regular season game, as he has become more patient and is taking quality shots in the paint. If Bynum stays healthy, he has the ability to demand a double-team on any given night, freeing up Fisher, World Peace, Murphy, and Kapano for easy looks from downtown. Pau Gasol been solid as always is to start this season, averaging 17 points and 8 boards. Oh and the Lakers also have Kobe Bryant, who is on pace to pass Shaquille O'Neal for fifth all time on the NBA's scoring list. When you team him up with Gasol, Bynum, and the Lakers' depth on their bench, it doesn't seem too far of a stretch to say that the Lakers will be the best in the West.

Why Rajon Rondo Is the Best PG in the NBA...

With all the talented point guards in the NBA, (Chris Paul, Deron Williams, last year's MVP Derrick Rose), it may seem difficult to make a case for Rondo as the best point guard in the league, especially since he has three future hall-of-famers on this team. But if you watched Christmas day special against the Knicks, you will understand where I am coming from. Over the past couple of years, more than any other point guard, Rondo has adapted his game to exactly what Boston has asked of him. It's true that of all the top point guards in the league, Rondo's lack of a perimeter game makes him an unattractive candidate to build a team around. But the fact of the matter is that Rondo doesn't need a consistent outside shot because of the talent around him. Rondo's job, like every point guard's job, is to run an efficient offense that gets off high quality shots. In this aspect,  a strong case can be made for Rondo as the best set-up man in the game.

Rondo had 31 points, 13 assists, and 5 steals in the game against the Knicks on Sunday, an impressive game by any standards. However, believe it or not,  Rondo's impact on the game goes much beyond what his stats showed. Rondo gives the Celtics offense a sense of fluency it just would not have without him. Rondo drove to the lane almost at will and demanded that at least two to three defenders to pay attention to him on every play. When the help didn't get there quick enough, he would take the shot himself and if it was there, he would kick out to a teammate who would either take a shot or keep the ball moving for a better shot. When Rondo saw that the half-court offense wasn't working, he would get the defensive rebound and push the ball himself up the court, essentially creating a one-man fast break and he would create good looks for both himself and his teammates. Rondo kept an undersized Celtics team in the game without Paul Pierce and with an underperforming Ray Allen. Rondo was even his hitting jump shots, something that he's heavily been criticized for and something he's worked incredibly hard to improve over the past couple of years. At the end of the game, Garnett misses a mid-range jump shot that would have been money three years ago, a shot that was set up by New York's fear of Rondo penetrating off the screen. With the way that Carmelo Anthony was playing and with Paul Pierce out with an injury, this game should really shouldn't have been close. Yet once again, Rondo made something out of nothing, as he has for the past three years, and kept the aging Celtics in the game with the run and gun Knicks.

Even with players of immense caliber such as Ray Allen, Kevin Garnett, and Paul Pierce on the Celtics, their offense would not be the same if you didn't have a player like Rondo who puts these players in a position to score. You have to understand that all three of these players were used to dominating the ball on their respective teams and when they came together, the question on everyone's mind was whether or not there was enough offense to go around. Rondo quickly answered this by developing into the ideal point guard, benefiting not only the big three but also the Celtic bench which was a critical part of their championship run. Without Rondo, its questionable whether or not the Celtics would have even made their two finals appearances, let alone have won one. Rondo's value to his team is just as important as is Rose's, Williams', or Paul's value to their respective teams, but these players are consistently placed ahead of Rondo on the casual fan's top point guard list.

What undermines Rondo in the eyes of many people is the fact that his jump shot isn't up to par with the average point guard. But what he lacks on the perimeter, he makes up with an incredibly high basketball IQ and an unmatched tenacity for the ball, which allows him to constantly be a league leader in assists, steals, and rebounds (for guards). So what if Rondo isn't a knockdown jump shooter from the perimeter and so what if he's a below average free throw shooter? Since when were those the qualifications for a good point guard? Magic Johnson is widely regarded as one of the top three point guards to ever play the game, not because he shot 30% from the three point line or 84% from the free throw stripe but because the Showtime Lakers were considered the greatest five players to ever be put on a basketball court together. Magic was the anchor, the unquestioned leader for those Lakers, similar to Rondo's role with today's Boston Celtics. A point guard's role is like a quarterback's role in football in the sense that they both are required to run an offense. Nobody runs an offense better than Rajon Rondo and if you don't believe me, watch a Celtics game and compare the Celtics' offense from when Rondo is in the game to when he is taken out of the game. The fluency, efficiency, and explosiveness that allows the Celtics to wear down their opponents is just not there when he's not in the game. It's true that the same can be said for the Bulls, Nets, and Clippers when their respective point guards are on the bench, but what makes Rondo so special is that he does not have to have the ball in his hands to work his magic. Rondo exemplifies what a true point guard in the NBA should be like. A point guard doesn't have to be the one to take the last shot or even have game-winning assist. A point guard's job is to make sure that every possession ends with a quality shot and in this aspect, Rondo is the best in the business.

Plenty To Look Forward To On Saturday...

For some NFL teams, their playoffs will begin on Saturday as they are placed in situations where they must win in order to continue their seasons into January. This saturday will show which teams are diverse enough to win games in December, where the cruel weather can make it impossible to rely only the passing game, and where a weak defense and lack of depth can easily be exposed and taken advantage of. We all know the which teams are guaranteed playoff spots. This Saturday should help clear the dust on the remaining playoff spots and set up even more critical matchups for Week 17. Let's begin looking at this week's crucial matchups, starting with those that affect the juggled NFC East.

Eagles @ Cowboys 4:15 PM EST
The resurgent Eagles look to keep their playoff hopes alive by beating the Dallas Cowboys for the second time this season, this time inside the Eight Wonder of the World where the Cowboys have had their struggles. Tony Romo is playing arguably the best football of his career but the question is whether or not the Cowboys' lack of a running game and their suspect defense will be able to overcome a Philadelphia Eagles team that has a legitimate chance to make the playoffs. I think the stage is set for the Eagles to complete their playoff run and these are the games in which the Cowboys are known to choke in, so my money is with Philadelphia. I think the Eagles will be able to take care of their own business and will receive enough help to complete their playoff run.

Giants @ Jets 1:00 PM EST
The battle of New York has much more than pride on the line as both of these teams are coming off embarrassing losses and need a victory to solidify their playoff hopes. Both of these teams need to win their final two games in order to guarantee a playoff spot, the Giants through winning their division and the Jets through a wildcard spot. Obviously it's not possible for that to happen and that's what makes this game even more intense. I think that the Jets will come out on top due to the fact that this is the time of year where Rex Ryan's defense is known for stepping up and making big plays. This is the same Jets defense that has took them to two consecutive AFC Championship Games. They are too good not to make the playoffs, despite Mark Sanchez's inconsistent play. Look for the Jets to take care of business against the Giants and provide much needed help for the Eagles to make the playoffs.

Chargers @ Lions 4:05 EST
Like the aforementioned matchup, this game has important playoff implications for both the AFC and the NFC team involved in it. It's amazing how the Chargers can lose six straight games at one point and still have a chance to make the playoffs.  Needless to say, the Chargers are playing their best football right now, both offensively and defensively, and are coming off a monster win against a very good Baltimore Ravens team. With that being said, the Lions are also coming off a big win, a classic comeback victory against the Raiders that featured a revived Calvin Johnson. Last second wins have defined the Lions season so far and they will look to take the momentum from their last game in this. In the end though, I think the Chargers offense will be too much for Detroit to handle and Phillip Rivers will continue his hot streak. This game is basically a must win for both teams, as the Chargers are looking to make the playoffs as they do every year, while the Lions are trying to get into the playoffs for the first time in a long time. Even with the loss this week, the Lions will still be a favorite to get a wildcard spot along with Atlanta due to the fact that their main contender, the Chicago Bears, are playing the Green Bay Packers, who are going to look to avenge their recent loss. However, the Lions can't blow this game off because they play the Packers the last week of the season and they would prefer taking care of their own business rather than depend on other teams losing. This game is going under the radar but because of what's on the line for both teams, it should be a great one to watch.

Raiders @ Chiefs 4:15 PM EST
After a great start to the season, the Raiders have really slipped in recent weeks and are coming off a heartbreaking last second loss to the Detroit Lions. The Raiders have a great running game but Carson Palmer's presence hasn't improved the Raider's passing game as they would have hoped and their one-dimensional style makes them easy to figure out for opposing defenses. This is a must win game for the Raiders but in order to make the playoffs, they are going to need help from the Buffalo Bills, who play the AFC West Division leaders, Denver Broncos. Because of their win this past Sunday against the Packers, the Chiefs are mathematically in playoff contention. However, the chances of everything falling into place and the Chiefs winning their division are really slim. Despite this, I think the Chiefs will play spoiler to the Raiders on Saturday and I think that Tim Tebow and the Denver Broncos will take care of business against the Bills, earning them the AFC West and a playoff berth.

There are other important matchups in the NFL this week that have to do with playoff seeding and homefield advantage but these are the games that feature teams whose playoffs begin on Saturday. All of these teams cannot afford to lose as their playoff chances could significantly evaporate or disappear completely. Because of what's at stake, these games should be the best to watch and on Saturday, we will see which one of these teams is playing well enough to not only make the playoffs but also make some noise when they get there. Going into Week 16 last year, the Green Bay Packers were 8-6 and needed to win their final two games in order to make the post-season. From that point on, the Packers didn't lose another game until last Sunday. We'll see of any of these last minute playoff teams can get in a rhythm and make a run for the Superbowl, similar to last year's Packers.

What's Up In LA?

Last night was the first of two preseason games between the Lakers and Clippers, and the Clippers came out firing on all cylinders, defeating the Lakers 114-95. Now it's easy to say that the Lakers are washed up and that the Clippers are the new dominant team in Southern California. It's also doesn't do justice for Lakers fans to shrug off the loss, claiming that it's merely the preseason and that the regular season will be completely different. Last night's game clearly showed fruits of the Clippers' off-season moves but believe it or not, the Lakers also have plenty of positives to take away from their loss. Let's begin with the Clippers.

No team in this short off-season made as much noise as the LA Clippers, who began their quest by landing arguably the best point guard in the league, Chris Paul. It's true that the Clippers had to give up their leading scorer from last season, Eric Gordon, and a solid presence in the middle, Chris Kaman, but there's no doubt that the move significantly improved their roster. Players like Paul come around once in a lifetime and teaming the 26 year-old dynamic point guard with the human highlight reel Blake Griffin will not only improve ticket sales but also make the Clippers a legitimate contender to challenge teams like the Mavericks, Thunder, and the team they share Staples Center with, the Los Angeles Lakers.

Wisely enough, the Clippers didn't stop with Paul. They also added forward Caron Butler and former all-star point guard Chauncey Billups. Combine Billups and Butler, with Paul, and the Clippers' already potent front court of Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan and you have a starting lineup that can challenge  almost any team in the West, at least in terms of scoring. There are still questions, at least in my mind, about whether or not this team can play the type of defense needed to considered a legitimate title contender. By starting Billups at the 2, the Clippers do gain badly needed veteran experience to their young core but they also lose a defender. That's not to say that Billups is a bad defender. It's just that he is small for shooting guard standards and asking your big men to constantly provide help defense can put them into early foul trouble, taking away one of their advantages. The Lakers exposed some of this last night through Kobe Bryant getting to the free throw line fifteen times. It will be interesting to see how the Clippers handle their backcourt in the future and whether or not they will be willing to bring Chauncey Billups off the bench, sacrificing his offensive expertise for a better defensive presence. Also, Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan are not known for being premier one on one defenders and teams such as the Grizzlies, Mavericks, and Lakers, who have premier front courts, could expose this weakness and use it to their advantage.

Despite their possible defensive flaws, the Clippers showed that they deserve the hype and look for them to make some noise in the Western Conference this year.

The Lakers, on the other hand, are on the opposite end of the spectrum in terms of post-season success. They lost last year's Sixth Man of the Year, Lamar Odom, for a first-round draft pick and a trade exemption from the Dallas Mavericks, the same Dallas Mavericks who embarrassed this Lakers team in the second round of last year's NBA Playoffs. Lamar Odom's versatility makes him invaluable to any team and especially to the Lakers who have hadn't had a true point guard in years. His versatility also makes his trade value extremely high but Jim Buss made the fatal mistake of letting his pride get in the way of a business decision and Odom was shipped to the defending NBA Champions for basically nothing. To summarize, not only did the Lakers not get Chris Paul or Dwight Howard, they also lost best sixth man in the game to a team that is set up to win the West again. Seems like a recipe for failure, right?

Luckily, the Lakers still have a solid front court with one of the most skilled big men in the game, Pau Gasol, and Andrew Bynum, who has all the tools to be one of the most dominant centers in the game. Oh and they have this guy named Kobe Bryant playing the 2 for them. Sound familiar?

In a way, Phil Jackson's retirement may have been a blessing in disguise for the Lakers. Mike Brown, Phil's replacement, ran an offense in Cleveland that featured Lebron James at the center and everyone feeding off of him. Now it's true that Kobe has a much better supporting cast than Lebron did in Cleveland and that Kobe isn't 27 years old anymore, he still has the ability to score at will and hopefully, with Mike Brown coaching, Kobe will play more minutes and provide more offense for the Lakers than he did last year. Now you may say, how much more can Kobe really score? Well last season, Kobe had the highest average PPG for someone who only played 36 minutes in a game. Kobe may not be the player he was a couple of years ago but he still has the ability to help the Lakers win more games this year with increased scoring.

The Lakers didn't do all bad this off-season either, adding free agents Troy Murphy, Joshua McRoberts, and Jason Kapano. The Lakers addressed their back-up big man situation through Murphy and McRoberts, both of whom can provide solid minutes off the bench. Although neither of them are as versatile as Odom, they are valuable assets to the Lakers' bench.

Probably the most important addition to the Lakers this off-season was Jason Kapano, former Three Point Shootout Champion. He provides the Lakers with a consistent threat from the perimeter, something that the Lakers clearly lacked. Both Ron Artest and Matt Barnes are too inconsistent from the three-point line to be considered constant threats. Look for Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol to both find Kapano open since they both have the ability to demand double teams.

Overall, both the Clippers and the Lakers have alot to look forward to this season. The Clippers have young talent that they can build into a championship contender starting this season while the Lakers have a seasoned line-up that can easily get hot and win the games it needs to in order to win another championship. It's an exciting time to be a basketball fan.

Which Broken Streak Hurts More? The Packer's Quest for Perfection or Tebow's Quest for Immortality?

     Even if you are someone who despises both the Green Bay Packers and Jesus (Tim Tebow), there is no way that you could not have been disappointed seeing two of the most historic streaks in the NFL end abruptly. One of the streaks was ended by probably the greatest QB in the NFl over the last decade, Tom Brady, while the other was ended by a QB who was cut earlier to make way for God to show his power through Tebow (Kyle Orton). Prior to their loss on Sunday to the coach-less Chiefs, the Packers hadn't lost a football game in almost a calendar year; their last loss dated back to December 19, 2010 to the New England Patriots, while playing without their Pro Bowl QB Aaron Rodgers. As a Packers fan, it was truly difficult to watch this game as it not only exposed the well-known flaws of the Packers' 31st ranked defense, but it also showed flaws in Rodger's game, something that most people forgot existed. And although Rodgers was under heavy pressure for most of the game due to his injury prone offensive line and even though his go to guy (with Greg Jennings injured), Jordy Nelson, didn't show up until there were 3 minutes left in the game, it pains me to say that Rodgers had a subpar performance, missing easy throws and relying too much on his receivers to adjust to the ball. After the game, most of the Packers and Packers fans shrugged the loss off, claiming that it's good for the Packers to know that they aren't invincible. I couldn't disagree more with this sentiment. First of all, losing is never a good thing, no matter what your record is. Secondly, this was more than just a loss. This was a lost chance at history. The Packers had the 2nd longest winning streak in NFL history and their last two games were at home against teams that they had beat earlier this season. They would have been favored to go 16-0 and would have also been favored to extend their win streak to 25. Assuming that there aren't any drastic off-season changes to the Packer's roster, the Packers had the possibility to extend their streak to 33 or more, passing the Showtime Lakers for the longest winning streak in professional sports!

     Okay fine, maybe I should stop living in a world that could have been, but the point is that any winning streak in professional sports is significant, and the Packers had a chance to engrave themselves in history, arguably as the greatest football team ever. Granted that they can renew this argument by repeating as Superbowl Champions, they still blew a once in a lifetime opportunity. And what makes the loss more disappointing is that came to the Kansas City Chiefs, a team who had just fired their head coach and have a starting QB that Green Bay had already crushed earlier in the year. You don't get a chance to make history every season but when you do, you have to capitalize, and it seems like the Packers just didn't want it.

Meanwhile....

The Patriots versus the Broncos was easily the most hyped up game of this NFL Season and it had every right to be. It featured Tom Brady and the Patriots, who seem to break some sort of record every year, and Tim Tebow's Denver Broncos, who seem to do no wrong after the third quarter. Everyone agreed that something special was going on in Denver and Tebow madness has spread everywhere in the country, ranging from a skit dedicated to him on SNL to multiple high schools around the country where kids have been suspended for "tebowing." Whether you like Tebow or you completely despise him and his virtuous demeanor, no one can deny that it takes something special to have a word named after you.

And special is the only thing that properly describes what Denver was doing. 

Everyone knew the story. I don't have to elaborate on Denver's 7-1 record with Tebow as a starter, or Tebow's QB rating's unfathomable jump between the 3rd and 4th quarter, or how everyone on Denver could do things at the end of the game that would have seemed impossible in the first three quarters. I don't have to elaborate on the "Tebow factor" that everyone credited for Denver's success, and in my opinion, rightfully so. This was, at least in ESPN's mind, the greatest story ever told. And that's why ESPN decided to tell it again and again and again.

I also don't have to tell you what happened. Tom Brady's Patriots put the Broncos in their place, removing any chance of another 4th quarter comeback. Tebow played a great game, at least for his standards, throwing the ball for almost 200 yards and rushing for two touchdowns. The funny thing about this game is that no one was surprised when the Patriots beat the Broncos. Yet, everyone was disappointed. It's like a Christmas miracle was taken away from us. Even Tebow haters couldn't say anything. What had Tebow done wrong? Lost to a team led by arguably the best QB to ever play the game? No QB can ever be criticized for being outplayed by Tom Brady. It's something that's normal. The problem is that Tebow showed for once that he was normal.

Both streaks were special but for different reasons. The Packer's streak was built through hard work, incredible team chemistry, and a little luck. Denver's streak was... magical, created through not just a team but an entire country believing in one man's ability to keep doing the impossible. What makes the Packer's streak ending more heartbreaking than the one started by Denver is that if Tebow leads his Broncos to a 4th quarter comeback against the Bills on Saturday, Tebowmania will resume as if it had never stopped to begin with. For the Packers, their win next week will come nowhere near to the attention as Tebow's win would receive, no matter how they win. At best, the Packer's will clinch home-field advantage throughout the playoffs and be just like any other number one seed in the past. Even if they win the Superbowl, it still won't be as special as it could have been, due to the fact that repeating as Superbowl champs has been done before. What makes people so crazy about what Tebow is doing is that it's never been done before. People believe in Tim Tebow and will continue to believe in him and glorify his victories, even after his loss to the Patriots. The same cannot be said for the Packers. They went from being historic to being just another really good team and that's why their streak ending the way that it did has to be devastating for any football fan.